July 09, (THEWILL) – The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has called on the Federal Government to ensure the safe return of the two journalists and members of their families, recently abducted in Kaduna State by suspected bandits.
THEWILL had reported that Messers Abdulgafar Alabelewe and Mr AbdulRaheem Abdu, the Kaduna state correspondents of The Nation and Blue Print newspapers respectively, were abducted along with their family members last weekend.
NPAN, in a statement signed on Tuesday, by its President, Kabiru A. Yusuf, urged the Federal Government to deploy all the necessary security assets at its disposal to ensure their safe return.
The association expressed concern over the prolonged silence from their abductors. They appeal to their abductors to ensure that none of them come to harm but are returned safely.
The statement read: “The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), is concerned about the safety of Messers Abdulgafar Alabelewe and Mr AbdulRaheem Abdu, the Kaduna State correspondents of The Nation and Blue Print newspapers, who were abducted last weekend.
“More worrying is the prolonged silence from their abductors who seized the journalists along with members of their families, including wives and children.
“The trauma induced on both their biological and professional families by this condemnable event is better imagined.
“We call on the Federal Government to ensure the safe return of the journalists and their families by deploying all the necessary security assets at its disposal.
“We stand in sympathy with the families as we pray for their safe return.
“We appeal to their abductors to ensure that none of them come to harm but are returned safely.”
